Hobart International: Cornet downs nervy Bouchard to win title

Frenchwoman defeats Canadian 6-1, 6-2 to claim fifth career title

HOBART: France's Alize Cornet stormed to a 6-1, 6-2 win over Eugenie Bouchard to claim her fifth career title at the Hobart International on Saturday.

The 42nd-ranked Cornet was too strong and consistent for the misfiring Canadian, winning the decider in 68 minutes in windy conditions.

But as much as seventh seed Cornet dominated, former world number five Bouchard was well off her game, losing serve seven times, producing five double faults and serving at just 48%.



"I was very focused for the whole tournament and the whole match today, now I can let go," said Cornet. "It's my fifth title. It's been two years that I haven't won a title, so it feels great."

Bouchard hit 34 unforced errors for the match to Cornet's 17, a key difference. The Canadian struggled in the windy conditions, only holding serve once in the match.

Cornet broke Bouchard's opening service game and then gave back the service break before reeling off five straight games to take the first set.



Bouchard broke Cornet's opening service in the second set and led 2-0 before the French star won six games in a row to take the set and the match.

"[It was a] rough day at the office. I didn't have the energy and emotional control as I need too, to be able to perform well," said Bouchard, who had defeated three seeded players — Alison van Uytvanck, Camila Giorgi and Dominika Cibulkova — on the way to the Hobart final.

"I woke up and had personal family issues at home and things like that, and I couldn't keep my focus. As soon as things started going downhill, I really couldn't keep my emotions together."

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2016.

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